The ABL "has given the option to buy the operating
rights" to the Portland Power to the league's Senior VP,
Rodger Rickard, according to Jason Quick of the Portland
OREGONIAN. Rickard has five years to exercise the option.
Operating rights cost in the $3.5M range, but ABL CEO Gary
Cavalli said that Rickard "would be offered a discount price
because he invested several millions" into the league in
September. Rickard, a former CA real estate entrepreneur,
said that he might purchase the rights at the end of '98:
"It all depends on how well the league is progressing along
its path." Quick: "Rickard's actions will be interesting to
watch. ... If he buys the operating rights to the Power,
fans have to feel good about the league's future. But the
longer he holds out, the more unsteady the league seems."
If he exercises his option, Rickard would control the team's
marketing, local broadcasts, ticket sales, sponsorships and
staffing, while the ABL would still own the team and pay its
players (Jason Quick, Portland OREGONIAN, 12/8).

NHL: In Edmonton, prospective local owners of the NHL
Oilers met with Premier Ralph Klein "to discuss a possible
role for the province in saving the financially troubled"
team (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 12/9)....In FL, NHL Panthers
President Bill Torrey said that he "expects" the team to
purchase the AHL expansion franchise previously awarded to
FL broadcast exec Bill Paxson. He added the team could play
at the Miami Arena (MIAMI HERALD, 12/7)....The Senators
unveiled their third jersey with a red background. It will
be worn eight times after the All-Star break (Senators).
OTHER NOTES: ABC's Al Michaels interviewed Cowboys
Owner Jerry Jones at halftime of last night's Panthers-
Cowboys "MNF" game. Jones, on his involvement in next
year's coaching process: "I got involved in the NFL because
I was passionate about the game, about football. I enjoyed
playing it. But I think it'll stop short of me being the
head coach of the Dallas Cowboys ("MNF," ABC, 12/8)....The
N.Y. POST reports that the Yankees dismissed Hideki Irabu's
interpreter, Kota Ishijima, and four other non-uniformed
employees "three weeks before Christmas." Also dismissed
were equipment manager Nick Priore, massage therapist
Michael Silverwise, video coordinator Carl Taylor and
consulting psychiatrist Fran Pirozzolo. The Yankees had no
comment in the report (N.Y. POST, 12/9)....The Indians sold
600,000 tickets over the weekend in the first two days that
'98 general admission seats were put on sale (Indians).

N.Y.-based attorney E. Miles Prentice said that he
"submitted an application to buy the Royals," according to
Zack Burgess of the K.C. STAR. Prentice said that "despite
his New York ties, he would not attempt" to move the team.
Royals President Mike Herman could not be reached for
comment. Prentice owns Midland Sports with his partner, Bob
Richmond. Midland Sports owns two minor-league teams in TX,
the Midland Angels in the AA Texas Baseball league and the
WPHL Odessa Jackolopes hockey team (K.C. STAR, 12/6).

A study conducted by the Marlins "put the post-season
economic" boost of their world championship run at $155.7M
-- "two-thirds of which funneled through the team's
enterprises," according to David Beard of the Ft. Lauderdale
SUN-SENTINEL. Meanwhile, a separate study conducted for the
Broward Economic Development Council put the "boon" to South
FL from the World Series alone at $61.8M. But Beard adds
that critics "attacked the methods" used to come up with
both figures, "saying the analysts made a series of generous
assumptions about the indirect expenses." Marlins Financial
Analyst Jeff Ross said that "the team used credit-card
receipts by fans to come up with part of its figures, as
well economic data in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach
counties." The Broward study, conducted by FL Atlantic
Univ. Professor Kathleen Davis, included information from
1,413 completed questionnaires taken during the World Series
games. That report excluded spending from out-of-towners
not drawn to South FL specifically for the Series. Based on
the questionnaires, 12.9% of ticket-holders were out-of-
towners who came to the area primarily for baseball. The
Marlins' study had the percentage at close to 20%. Davis
also stated that visitors had an average daily expense of
$482; while the Marlins' Ross said he used the $220-a-day
regional average (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 12/9).

According to official NHL documents obtained by Tom
Jackson of the TAMPA TRIBUNE, in seven games played at the
Ice Palace through November 14, the Lightning were
"substantially" behind last season's year-to-date totals in
paid attendance, percentage of arena capacity and ticket
revenue. The Lightning were down nearly 26% in paid
attendance, down 20% in arena capacity, and down 11.1% in
ticket revenue. Lightning President Steve Oto: "We are not
quite pleased." Jackson reports that this comes after a
nearly 20% increase in ticket prices. While the Capitals,
Avalanche and Oilers joined the Lightning in raising ticket
prices, only the Lightning have a year-to-year decrease in
ticket revenue to show for their increase. Oto attributed
the team's early-season struggle to the success of the NFL
Bucs and the Lightnings' poor start (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 12/9).